KAZENGA LUALUA is hoping to cap a perfect week by making his first appearance in the first team this season at Portsmouth.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear has problems in his midfield, with question marks hanging over Damien Duff, Nicky Butt and Danny Guthrie, while Shola Ameobi is also a doubt.

But the young exciting striker-cum-winger, who turned 18 this week and netted two cracking goals in the FA Youth Cup against Oldham Athletic to help United progress in the prestigious junior competition, will offer Kinnear something different.

And after being involved in several first-team squads since making his return to action from an ankle injury last month, LuaLua, whose older brother Lomana played for both Pompey and United, is delighted to be back and start making up for lost time.

Kazenga – who made his Toon debut in January in the FA Cup at Stoke – told the Chronicle: “I have put my injuries behind me now and can look ahead. I was out for a few months, but now I am back.

“I am feeling fine and really fit and just happy to be back.

“I am pleased with the way I’ve been playing too.

“We’ve slowly built it up, I played 65 minutes at Everton in the reserves the other week and then played the whole game in the Youth Cup against Oldham, so there’s no problems at all.”

And Kinnear admits he won’t hesitate if he has to give LuaLua a chance at Fratton Park.

He said: “I’m monitoring LuaLua, and he’ll be in the squad tomorrow.

“We’ll see who’s available, but at the moment, my midfield’s been decimated.

“I see him in training all the time, as well as Ben Tozer and Tamas Kadar, who often join us.

“LuaLua’s a decent player, and he did well on Tuesday night. I like Kadar, as well. We know what they can do.”